Folding device for flat goods



c. L. SNAYIBYERIJGIER, SR. ET AL 3,396,878

Aug. 13, 1968 FOLDING DEVICE FOR FLAT GOODS Fiied Oct. 25, 1966 2Sheets-Sheet 1 R I R UN 0 w 2m x, 7% m y M m j W WW \\k 8. 2 LL v 6 8 hw v m m mm m a I 3 m a T Ill Aug. 13, 1968 c. 1.. SNAYBERGER, sR.. ET LFOLDING DEVICE FOR FLAT GOODS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct.

m Clarence L. Snoybe| ger,SR- Clarence L Snoyberger,Jr

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United States Patent 3,396,878 FOLDING DEVICE FOR FLAT GOODS Clarence L.Snayberger, Sr., 327 N. 15th St. 18102, and Clarence L. Snayberger, Jr.,412 Hanover Ave. 18103, both of Allentown, Pa.

Filed Oct. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 589,406 4 Claims. (Cl. 223-37) Ourinvention is a novel folding device for fiat goods, such as polo shirts,T-shirts, blankets, sheets, towels, and any other flat goods, and theobject of the invention is to provide a folding device adapted to bemounted upon and asscociated with an endless conveyor belt, the samebeing adapted to automatically fold over the two sides of said poloshirts, or other flat goods, on the upper run of the conveyor belt asthey are fed through and under the device.

The present invention is an improvement upon the folding device shown inour US. Letters Patent No. 3,131,838, issued May 5, 1964, whichdisclosed a folding device of the above type including a pair ofsuperimposed and laterally offset stainless steel or other foldingboards adapted to be adjustably secured to the conveyor frame and torest in fixed location upon the upper run of the conveyor belt, whichboards were laterally adjustable as to combined or overall width so asto conform with the width of the fold which was to be formed at theopposite sides of the shirt, or other fiat goods, which goods couldobviously be of different sizes; also disclosed two chrome platedfolding bars cooperating with and disposed above the folding boards, onebar being disposed in advance of the other bar and mounted in bracketssecured to the conveyor frame, the bars being so shaped that they formthe folds in the shirt by turning in the sides of the shirt as it ismoved by the conveyor belt under the folding boards, the bars beingdisposed one behind the other so as to fold in one side only of theshirt at a time whereby the folding operation at one side of the shirtwill not interfere with the folding operation at the other side of theshirt.

The principal object of our present invention is to substitute for thetwo folding bars of our aforesaid patent, above mentioned, tworectangular substantially flat folding pans cooperating with anddisposed above the folding boards, one pan being disposed in advance ofthe other and each pan being adjustably secured in brackets mounted onthe conveyor frame, and said pans being disposed at an angle to the axisof the conveyor belt with their leading inner corners offset laterallybeyond the adjacent sides of the folding boards to form the folds in theshirt as it is moved by the conveyor belt under the folding boards.

Another object of our invention is to provide a folding device of theabove type so arranged that the operator may place an unfolded shirt orthe like on the leading end of the upper run of the conveyor belt, andas the belt progresses the shirt will be carried under the foldingboards, one side of the shirt being first engaged by the first foldingpan to fold the said side over and upon the adjacent edge of the foldingboards, further progress of the conveyor belt causing the other side ofthe shirt to be folded up and over the adjacent side of the foldingboards, whereby upon further progress of the conveyor belt the shirtwill emerge from under the folding boards, the final fold beingperformed manually by the operator who then lifts the bottom hem of thefolded shirt upwardly and folds it back towards the collar of the shirt,the shirt being then ready for packaging.

A further object of our invention is to provide a folding device of theabove type in which one, two, three or ice more shirts or the like maybe placed one upon the other, and the plurality of superimposed shirtssimultaneously folded for packaging according to the number of shirtsdesired by a customer.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a folding devicewhich will fold infants gowns, shirts, kimonos, or any other similartype of garment, the folds being formed automatically in accordance'withthe num ber of superimposed garments fed onto the conveyor belt.

We will explain the invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate one practical embodiment thereof to enableothers familiar with the art to adopt and use the same, and willsummarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novelcombination of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an endless conveyor showing our novelfolding boards positioned thereon; also the folding pans mounted atopposite sides of the conveyor frame within the length of the foldingboard.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the upper portion ofthe conveyor frame in way of the folding boards showing the conveyorbelt, the folding boards and the folding pans.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 44, FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 55, FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the conveyor showing apolo shirt placed upon the leading portion of the conveyor belt prior toits passage under the folding board and folding pans, respectively.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the shirt disposed underthe folding boards and the folding operation at one side substantiallycompleted, and the folding operation at the opposite side in its initialstate; also showing beyond the folding boards a folded shirt afterhaving emerged from the folding device while on the conveyor belt.

As shown, the endless conveyor is of conventional type, having sideframes A supported upon legs B and having at one end a roller C and atthe opposite end a roller D, a conveyor belt E running around the drums0-D, and the drum D being driven :by a belt F by means of a motor G. Theparticular construction of the endless conveyor forms no part of ourinvention, assuming that the conveyor is of substantial length toaccommodate our folding device. Preferably the frames A carry a flat topboard H underlying the upper run of the belt E to avoid sagging of thebelt.

At a convenient distance from the leading end of the conveyor belt E anddisposed above the belt E is a transversely disposed angle bar 1, theends of which extend beyond the sides of the frame A of the conveyor, asshown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, the ends being supported by uprights 2 whichare fixedly secured by straps 3 or the like to the adjacent legs B ofthe conveyor frame, as shown in FIG. 2.

Preferably the angle-iron 1 has its vertical flange facing the leadingedge C of the conveyor belt E, and is disposed approximately somewhatabove the conveyor belt, and is adapted to adjustably hold the leadingend of the pair of folding boards 4, which normally bear upon the uppersurface of the belt E disposed axially thereof, the leading end of theboards 4 being upwardly curved as at 4a, FIGS. 6 and 7, each board beingprovided with a slot 4b at its leading end which rests upon thehorizontal leg of angle-iron 1 engaging the vertical leg of the anglebar1 so that the boards may be shifted laterally for adjustment to conformwith the desired width of the fold in the shirt, and the boards when soadjusted being held against relative movement by tightening the screwwhich is threaded into the horizontal leg of the angle-iron 1. Thus byloosening the screw 5 both of the folding boards 4 may be adjustedlaterally of the belt E so as to conform with the width of the fold inthe polo or other shirt which is to be folded.

Preferably the boards 4 are formed of stainless steel and are relativelylong so as to accommodate the folding bars which are disposed one inadvance of the other and which bars cooperate with the folding boards toform the folds in the polo shirt S, and the major portion of the foldingboards directly contacting the upper run of the conveyor belt E.

Associated with the folding plates 4 are a pair of folding pans adaptedto fold over the sides of the shirt passing under the folding boards 4in succession, i.e., one side being folded at a time so that the foldingoperations of the respective pans will not interfere with each other. Asshown, the first folding pan 6 is of rectangular substantially fiatshape extending from a point under the angleiron 1 rearwardly to a pointsubstantially opposite the middle of the length of the folding boards 4as shown in FIG. 1. Pan 6 is adjustably maintained in a substantiallyhorizontal position above the folding boards 4, but disposed at a slightangle to the axis of the conveyor belt E and its leading edge 6a iscurved slightly downwardly to engage the conveyor belt E, the innercorner of the leading edge being slightly offset laterally from theadjacent side of the folding board 4, and the inner edge of the pan 6rearwardly of the said inner corner overlying the folding boards asshown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, so that as the shirt S on the belt E passesunder the leading edge 4a of the folding boards 4 the tip 6a of thefolding pan 6 which is in contact with the belt E will initially enterbetween the belt E and the underside of the shirt S, as shown in FIGS. 3and 6, and as the pan 6 is stationary, as the shirt is moved by theconveyor under the folding boards 4, and tip 6a of pan 6 will engage theleading end of the shirt S and turn same upwardly throughout the lengthof the shirt, forming a fold over the adjacent edge of the folding board4, as shown at S in FIG. 7, thus folding one side of the shirt S. Theleading end of the pan 6 is supported by a bracket 6b on the frame A insuch manner as to be adjustable transversely of the axis of the conveyorbelt E to accommodate various widths of the folding bars 4 and shirts S,while the rear end of the pan 6 is supported by a substantially L-shapedrod 7 underlying the pan 6 and secured thereto, the rear end of rod 7extending laterally of pan 6 and engaging a bracket 7a on frame A insuch manner as to be adjustable transversely of the axis of conveyorbelt E.

The second folding pan 8 is similar in all respects to pan 6, but ismounted on the opposite side of the conveyor frame A and extends from apoint in advance of the rear end of pan 6 rearwardly to approximatelythe rear end of folding plates 4 as shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7. Pan 8 isadjustably maintained in a substantially horizontal position above thefolding boards 4 and above the folding pan 6, but disposed at a slightangle to the axis of conveyor belt E and its leading edge 8a as curveddownwardly to engage the conveyor belt E, the inner corner of theleading edge being slightly offset laterally from the adjacent side ofthe folding board 4, and the inner edge of the pan 8 rearwardly of saidinner corner overlying the folding boards 4, as shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and7, so that as the shirt S shown in FIG. 8 is moved in the direction ofthe arrow the tip 8a will engage the leading end of the shirt S and foldthe same upwardly as at S2, FIG. 7, and inwardly over the near side ofthe folding boards 4, the shirt eventually emerging from over thefolding boards 4 into the folded position shown at the right hand sideof FIG. 7. When reaching such position on the conveyor E the foldingoperation may be completed manually by the operator lifting the hem orleading portion of the folded shirt S to which has been imparted asubstantially rectangular shape and folding same upwardly and over tomeet the neck portion of the folded shirt, after which the folded shirtis ready for packaging.

The pan 8 is laterally adjustably supported on the frame by means ofbrackets 8b and 9a similar in all respects to brackets 6b and 7a.

We have found that our folding device will fold more than one shirt at atime when a number of shirts are placed in superimposed relation uponthe leading end of the belt E, two, three, four or more shirts beingsimultaneously folded for packaging more than one shirt at a time. Theoperation of the device with respect to simultaneously folding aplurality of shirts is identically the same as previously described inconnection with the folding of a single shirt.

In order to prevent clinging of the fabrics to the pans 6 and 8, thesupporting rods 7 and 9 for the pans may be formed of hollow tubinghaving their ends connected to a suitable source of compressed air orsteam (not shown). The outer portions of the hollow tubes 7 and 9 may beprovided with a series of outlet jet holes along the inner sides of thetubes, as shown more particularly by the arrows in FIG. 6, so that theair or steam jets emerging from the perforations will prevent clingingof the articles while being folded to the pans and will thus assist inthe folding of the articles.

We do not limit our invention to the exact form shown in the drawings,for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of theclaims.

We claim:

1. In combination, a frame with an endless conveyor belt supportedthereupon and having an upper run continuously driven in one directionto move articles of clothing placed on said run at the leading endthereof towards the other end, a folding device comprising a pair ofsuperimposed folding plates normally resting upon said run and being ofless overall width than that of the run and under which the articlespass during their movement on said run; the leading ends of said platesbeing upwardly curved to permit entry thereunder of said articles; meanson said frame for centering and maintaining the plates in fixed relationon said run and for adjusting the overall width of the plates; a pair offolding pans cooperating with and disposed above the folding plates, onepan being disposed in advance of the other; and said pans beingadjustably mounted respectively in brackets secured to opposite sides ofthe frame; each pan being of substantially rectangular shape anddisposed at an angle to the axis of the belt and having a downwardlycurved front end which rests on said run with its inner corner adjacentand spaced from the near side of the plates, said front end beingadapted to pass under and raise the near side of the article along thefolding plates, the inner edge portions of the pans overlying the platesand being adapted to fold the raised side of the article inwardly andfiat upon the near side of the top of the folding plates as the articleis advanced by the run under the folding plates; whereby one side of thearticle will be folded in advance of the other, both folds beingperformed when the article emerges from the folding plates.

2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, said means on the framecomprising a horizontal angle iron disposed at the leading end of theoverlapping plates, the ends of said iron being supported in bracketsfixed to the frame; and the upwardly curved leading ends of the platesresting upon and being secured to said iron.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim 2, the leading ends of theplates having transverse slots therein; and said adjusting meanscomprising a screw passing through 5 said slots of the overlappingplates and into the said angle iron.

4. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, the pans being supportedrespectively on hollow tubes mounted in said brackets, said tubes beingperforated below the pans and adapted to be connected with a source ofvapor under pressure to provide jets to prevent clinging of articleswhile being folded to the pans and to assist in the folding of thearticles.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1964 Snayberger et a1. 223-373/1965 Melton 270-66 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION, A FRAME WITH AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR BELT SUPPORTEDTHEREUPON AND HAVING AN UPPER RUN CONTINUOUSLY DRIVEN IN ONE DIRECTIONTO MOVE ARTICLES OF CLOTHING PLACED ON SAID RUN AT THE LEADING ENDTHEREOF TOWARDS THE OTHER END, A FOLDING DEVICE COMPRISING A PAIR OFSUPERIMPOSED FOLDING PLATES NORMALLY RESTING UPON SAID RUN AND BEING OFLESS OVERALL WIDTH THAN THAT OF THE RUN AND UNDER WHICH THE ARTICLESPASS DURING THEIR MOVEMENT ON SAID RUN; THE LEADING ENDS OF SAID PLATESBEING UPWARDLY CURVED TO PERMIT ENTRY THEREUNDER OF SAID ARTICLES; MEANSON SAID FRAME FOR CENTERING AND MAINTAINING THE PLATES IN FIXED RELATIONON SAID RUN AND FOR ADJUSTING THE OVERALL WIDTH OF THE PLATES; A PAIR OFFOLDING PANS COOPERATING WITH AND DISPOSED ABOVE THE FOLDING PLATES, ONEPAN BEING DISPOSED IN ADVANCE OF THE OTHER; AND SAID PANS BEINGADJUSTABLY MOUNTED RESPECTIVELY IN BRACKETS SECURED TO OPPOSITE SIDES OFTHE FRAME; EACH PAN BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR SHAPE ANDDISPOSED AT AN ANGLE TO THE AXIS OF THE BELT AND HAVING A DOWNWARDLYCURVED FRONT END WHICH RESTS ON SAID RUN WITH ITS INNER CORNER ADJACENTAND SPACED FROM THE NEAR SIDE OF THE PLATES, SAID FRONT END BEINGADAPTED TO PASS UNDER AND RAISE THE NEAR SIDE OF THE ARTICLE ALONG THEFOLDING PLATES, THE INNER EDGE PORTIONS OF THE PANS OVERLYING THE PLATESAND BEING ADAPTED TO FOLD THE RAISED SIDE OF THE ARTICLE INWARDLY ANDFLAT UPON THE NEAR SIDE OF THE TOP OF THE FOLDING PLATES AS THE ARTICLEIS ADVANCED BY THE RUN UNDER THE FOLDING PLATES; WHEREBY ONE SIDE OF THEARTICLE WILL BE FOLDED IN ADVANCE OF THE OTHER, BOTH FOLDS BEINGPERFORMED WHEN THE ARTICLE EMERGES FROM THE FOLDING PLATES.